Author Archives: Greg Peck

National Weather Service Issues Freeze Alert

The National Weather Service is now predicting temperatures to go to at least 29F in many of the fruit growing regions in Virginia early Tuesday morning. If you have frost protection machines or burners, spend some time tomorrow to make sure they are operational and properly placed throughout the orchard.

See my previous post for the critical temperatures at which damage occurs for the main tree-fruit crops.

Early bloom and potential frost damage

We are easily three, and maybe four weeks ahead of “average” bloom dates in the Winchester area. Apples flower buds are ranging from tight cluster (Fuji) to open cluster (Red Delicious) to about 10% bloom open (Pink Lady). Peaches are at full bloom to petal fall. Cherries are at first bloom.

Pink Lady–10% bloom open.

Sweet Breeze peach — full bloom

Sweetheart/G.12 sweet cherry — full bloom

The National Weather Service is forecasting a potential low of 34F on Monday night (Tuesday morning) and a potential low of 38F on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning). If you have areas that are known frost pockets (low areas with minimal or no air drainage) in your orchard, the temperatures may be closer to the freezing point.

However, these temperatures should be above the critical temperature for damage. Apples in tight cluster to first bloom should be able to withstand temperatures down to 27 or 28F until there is a 10% kill, and down to 21F for tight cluster and 24-25F for pink to full bloom until there is a 90% kill.

Peaches in full bloom to petal fall can withstand 27-28F until there is a 10% kill, and down to 24-25F until there is a 90% kill.

Cherries in first to full bloom can withstand 28F until there is a 10% kill, and down to 25F until there is a 90% kill.

Pears in first to full bloom can withstand 27-28F until there is a 10% kill, and down to 23-24F until there is a 90% kill.

Nonetheless, it’s going to be a long time until we get through the last potential frost occurrence. The NOAA cites April 23 as the day beyond which we have only a 10% chance of having a temperature below 28F. You can look up other locations, temperatures , and percent chances for a frost occurrence here: NOAA Freeze/Frost Occurrence Data.

Here are pdf links for the Washington State University fact sheets on the critical temperatures for flower buds:

Michigan State University has adapted the WSU critical temperature fact sheets into this easy to read fact sheet.

Proposed Schedule for 2012 Orchard Meetings in Central Virginia

Contact: Michael LaChance
email: lachance@vt.edu
Nelson County Office
P.O. Box 298
8445 Thomas Nelson Hwy.
Lovingston, VA 22949
Tel 434-263-4035

Drs. Yoder, Pfeiffer, Bergh, and Peck have shared their available dates so we can be assured that two or more of these resources will be present.

  • April 3 HENRY CHILES / CROWN ORCHARD (Packing Facility in Covesville)
  • April 17 RICHARD SEAMAN & CARTER PARR / SEAMAN ORCHARD
  • May 1 JOHN & TOM BRUGUIERE / DICKIE BROS. ORCHARD
  • May 15  KEVIN DRUMHELLER / DRUMHELLER ORCHARD
  • May 29 HENRY CHILES / CROWN ORCHARD (Spring Valley Orchard. Heards Mtn.)

2012 Rappahannock County VCE Office In-Orchard Meetings

2012 Rappahannock County VCE Office In-Orchard Meetings

Contact: Kenner Love
Rappahannock County VCE Office
P. O. Box 119
Washington, Virginia  22747-0119
540/675-3619 FAX: 540/675-3232
e-mail: klove@vt.edu

  • March 14th Grafting Workshop: Madison Extension Office, War Memorial Building, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
  • April 4th James Jenkins, Jenkins Orchard, Woodville
  • April 25th Williams Orchard, Tommy and Eddie Williams, Flint Hill
  • May 9th Lee’s Orchard, Bryant Lee
  • May 23th Sunnyside Organic Orchard, Emily Cook mgr., Washington
  • June 13th Stribling Orchard, Robert Stribling, Markham
  • July 18th Graves’ Mountain Farm, Jimmy Graves, Syria

Directions and more details are located in this flyer:

2012 Rappahannock County In-Orchard Meeting Dates

Winchester In-Depth Meeting Schedule

Below are the dates for the upcoming commercial fruit meetings.  Drs. Keith Yoder, Chris Bergh, Shimat Joseph, and Greg Peck will be providing updated information and will be available for discussions and concerns regarding the upcoming season.

Thursday, March 29.  In-Depth Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture Updates
Program: “A Rundown of Early Season Disease Management” – Dr. Keith Yoder

Thursday, April 12.  Breakfast Meeting 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture Updates and Breakfast Provided

Thursday, April 26.  In-Depth Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture Updates
Program:  “Managing Apple Crop Load in 2012” – Dr. Greg Peck

Thursday, May 10.  Breakfast Meeting 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture Updates and Breakfast Provided

Thursday, May 24.  In-Depth Meeting 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Pathology, Entomology and Horticulture Updates
Program:  “All Bugs Considered” – Drs. Chris Bergh & Shimat Joseph

All meetings will be held at the Alson H. Smith AREC at 595 Laurel Grove Road, Winchester, Virginia.  Directions from I-81: take Stephens City exit (Exit 307).  Go west into Stephens City on Fairfax Street and proceed straight through traffic light onto Rt. 631 (Fairfax Street becomes Marlboro Rd.) and continue west approximately 3.5 miles.  Turn right (north) onto Middle Road (Rt. 628) at “T”.  Go 1.5 miles north on Middle Road and turn left (west) onto Laurel Grove Road (Rt.629).  Go 0.8 miles to AREC on left.

If you are a person with a disability and desire any assistive devices, services or other accommodations to participate in this activity, please contact Mark Sutphin, Frederick County Extension, at (540) 665-5699/TDD (800) 828-1120 during business hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to discuss accommodations five days prior to the event.

PDF version: Winchester Commercial Fruit Meetings 2012

Grow Local, Buy Local: Networking Event

From Mark Sutphin, VCE agent, Frederick County. Please contact Mark for more details.

Dear Producers:

The Frederick County, Virginia Cooperative Extension Office is joining forces with Francie Kennedy, Project Coordinator for the Shenandoah Valley Farm-to-Table Project, to hold a networking event for producers and buyers (restaurant and institutional) in the Northern Shenandoah Valley. We have titled the event: GROW LOCAL, BUY LOCAL:
OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THE LOCAL FOOD ECONOMY IN THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY. Our goal is to foster relationships between local producers and buyers to grow the local foods movement in our area. It will be held at the George Washington Hotel on Monday, February 6th from 9am-4pm.

Please register by February 1st at www.growlocalbuylocal.eventbrite.com

There is a great lineup of speakers scheduled to highlight local food initiatives that are occurring in the Northern Shenandoah Valley (Counties of Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah, and Warren). We will enjoy a lunch prepared from food produced in the Shenandoah Valley.

Attached is a flyer with information. There are also more details posted at www.growlocalbuylocal.eventbrite.com, and you may contact Francie Kennedy directly at 540.432.6029 ext. 107. Feel free to contact me as well for assistance.

Please pass this information along to others you believe would be interested in attending. I look forward to seeing you there!

Mark Sutphin
Associate Extension Agent
Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture Virginia Cooperative Extension Frederick County Office
107 North Kent Street
Winchester, VA 22601
Phone – 540.665.5699
Fax – 540.722.8380
mark.sutphin@vt.edu

For more details:

grow local winchester flyer

Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

On January 26, I will be conducting a hands-on fruit tree pruning workshop in collaboration with John Allison of VCE, of the Charles City & New Kent County offices.

Please see the Fruit tree pruning clinic flier for time, location, and other details.

The information will be targeted towards those with small to medium commercial orchards or large home plantings.